Chemocommunication among domestic cats, mediated by the olfactory and vomeronasal senses. I. Chemocommunication.

Chemocommunication functions are known in many social mammals, such as gerbils, hamsters, and deer. But also mammals known as at least partly solitary do communicate by chemical signals. The existence and use of pheromones in domestic cats was the subject of this study. It turned out that male and female cats spent much time in exploring their own and foreigners' urine and skin gland secretion rubbed off on several objects. Male receivers performed sniffing and flehmen more frequently than females on the same urine, whereas female cats paid more attention to skin gland secretion. Both urine and cheek gland secretion of the female donor appeared to contain pheromones which inform the tomcat about her hormonal phase.